5 Reasons Green Lantern Doesn’t Suck

Based on the internet, you’d think that Green Lantern was the worst movie since Batman & Robin. Thankfully it isn’t. It’s one of the most faithful comic-to-screen adaptations ever, and if you read Geoff Johns’ awesome run on Green Lantern over the decade; you’ll probably really like the movie. Here are a few reasons why Green Lantern definitely does not suck.

Sinestro

If you’re familiar with the Green Lantern comics you know who Sinestro becomes. Despite what many people have been saying, the seeds for that turn are placed throughout the first movie. It’s pretty blatant in fact when Sinestro begs the Guardians to craft a yellow ring so he could fight fear with fear. He craved the power, and the pay off is one of the coolest credit Easter Eggs ever in a comic book movie.

This is Hal Jordan

Initially I was worried about Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan. His wisecracking persona is much better fit to Barry Allen for The Flash, but he proved me wrong with completely nailing every element of Hal Jordan. There’s the cocky pilot on Earth, the hero when he pulls Abin Sur from his ship, and the Lantern who’s not afraid to talk back to the Guardians and put them in their place. That Hal from the comics is right there on screen.

The Suit

I initially hated the movie design of the suit. Leading up to the movie I avoided the film version of the Green Lantern action figures and the DC Direct busts because I just didn’t like how the suit looked. But seeing it in motion in the film, and especially how the Ring energy interacts with it; it’s extremely cool and I understand the design decisions. It works so much better than a plain spandex style suit would in live action and I liked every chance the movie gave to see the suit.

Constructs

The Ring’s constructs play a major part in the comics, and while there was initially some worry that they’d be toned down in the movie; the reality is that they’re all over the film. When Hal saves the day about halfway through the movie to reveal himself as Green Lantern on Earth, the constructs he makes are the elaborate type you expect to see after reading the comics. They’re as key to the movie as the suit is.

It’s Faithful to the Comics

Aside from some minor changes to save excess explanation, the lore of the movie is extremely faithful to the comics. Oa, Kilowog, Tomar-Re, the Guardians, and all of the Green Lantern Corps (aside from Guy, Kyle, and John) are here and if you’re familiar with the books you’ll love seeing it realized on screen.